Gondwana Tours & Safaris on safari in the Okavango
Gondwana Tours & Safaris
- Offices In:
-
United Kingdom
Portugal
Germany
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $1,200 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Alex | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mark Hathaway of Gondwana planned an excellent and seamless Botswana tour for us
Mark’s progression of our trip from Victoria Falls to Kasane to the Okavango Delta was well planned.
To some extent our venues were dictated by availability, and maybe we would have enjoyed alternate venues as much, but it worked out marvelously well. In retrospect, I would not want to have visited Victoria Falls without staying at the Victoria Falls Hotel. I enjoyed staying in that Edwardian colonial hotel almost as much as the Falls. Likewise, in Kasane, one day in the Garden Lodge, and two days at Pangolin was perfect, but I would not have wanted the full three days at either. And then to be at Rra Dinare with only a few other guests (between 2 and 4 depending), basically alone in the concession, was wonderful, especially following the busier Chobe National Park.
The arrangements were virtually seamless. Flame of Africa was always prompt. All the transfers worked without a hitch or worry on our part and we were able to participate in both morning and afternoon events at each venue. We appreciated Rodney of Gondwana meeting us at Maun on our return. Our private (there were three of us) helicopter flight over Victoria Falls was great, as were our private game drives in the Okavango Delta, and our bush plane flight out of hte Delta.
Mark’s advance information was complete and very helpful. Even though the Visa process at the Victoria Falls airport is very poorly organized, the Flame of Africa driver waited for us without complaint. The Pangolin Lodge was a photographic safari for everybody. I wasn’t sure it would be my cup of tea, but it was great and improved the rest of the Botswana game experience. Despite all of the above, Gondwana's price was very reasonable in comparison to others.
PT
Email Jan & Dick Purssell | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Zimbabwe Adventure
The organisation, transfers, flights etc were excellent Victoria Falls hotel for the first 2 nights lived up to all expectations and of course the Falls were truly magnificent. Everything about Verneys Camp was superb - the staff, the accommodation, the food and good wildlife spotting there - including 2 male and 3 female lions and the 2 painted dogs in the Conservation Roan and Sable antelope and elephants at the water hole, with hyena etc. Rhino Camp at Matusadona was a bit disappointing. The Camp was run very well but there was no wildlife to see except elephants and impala. Zambezi Expeditions Camp was again the accommodation, guides and staff were everything you could wish for. We even saw 3 painted female dogs, 2 male cheetah and loads of elephants, impala, zebra etc.
All in all a good holiday but not the best safari we have been on in other African counties regarding wildlife.
CA
Email Anne | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful vacation and perfectly planned
We had great communication with Mark Hathaway from the very start. Mark was very patient with us, changing our itinerary to suit us and our price point and timeline. He was very knowledgeable about all of the lodges and camps that we planned to stay at and gave us pros and cons for each. Everything was planned to the tiniest detail. Our vacation was outstanding and we can't wait to go back. When we do we'll be using Gondwana again.
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Email Becky | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Another great experience with Gondwana
We just returned from 3 days in the Motswari Private Reserve in SA. Once again, Mark and team organized an incredible trip! I can't say enough about the safari staff and their unending effort to make our stay wonderful. We saw so many animals, that I literally have to try to remember on which day we first saw a leopard eating its "fresh kill" , a lion pride, the pack of wild pups being fed by their mother, or the mama elephant nursing her baby. Our guide and tracker, Landon and Brian could not have worked harder to make sure we saw everything possible. The food was fantastic, as was our accommodation. This is our 2nd trip with Gondwana and I would highly recommend their company!!
Email Robyn McCabe | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
TAILOR MADE HOLIDAY TO BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, ZIMBABWE, and MOZAMBIQUE
Pom Pom Camp (Botswana) was our favourite. Guides, accommodation and meals were exceptional. A vast array of animals to view considering that the Okavango Delta in suffering from drought conditions.
Chobe River Princess: Highly organised. Comfortable accommodation and amazing 5*restaurant meals and service. This was relaxing time for us
Bayete Guest Lodge (Victoria Falls): Great ambiance. Meals and service excellent. The Lodge was running on generator power due to Government load shedding of their power supply. No complaints as this was out of their control. We walked through the Victoria Falls National Park viewing points as well as the historical Victoria Falls Hotel. We also did a quick flight over the falls which gave us a great perspective of The Falls from above
Elephant Express Train: Most enjoyable way to travel to our Bomani Tented Lodge
Bomani Tented Lodge: Great accommodation, Guides, Staff and especially the manager Karen who went out of her way to make us all feel at home.
Meals here was exceptional as well. There wasn't so much a variety of animals at this camp as at Pom Pom. We did have up close encounter with the Elephants drinking at the watering holes from inside the viewing hide. We visited the Nagamo Primary school here which was a highlight for us
Bahia Mar: (Vilanculos): We had a nice relaxing time here. Amazing accommodation with a beautiful view of the waterfront. Meals and service were fantastic.
We did a day trip out to one of the islands on a Dhow boat. I joined some locals of a 'Beach Clean Up' walk which was rewarding
Thank you Jonathan for your expertise in organizing our Southern African adventure
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Email Lissa Halliday | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent
They interpreted our needs perfectly and the holiday exceeded our expectations.
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Email Daniel | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Life time experience exceedi expectations for a very spoiled and seasoned traveler and nature lover.
I always wanted to go to subsaharian africa to experience safari. I had the chance to go in February this year, as I was on work related matters in Botswana. I had no idea about how it works, what are the options, tourist traps and so on. I also had a limited time to plan. My first encouter with gondwana was on Safaribookings where I was ghoing through offers and reviews. I wrote a generic and very simple and naive set of requests and sent it out to 5 tour operators. I had a fixed date for the Safari, between 31 January and 8th February. Did I mention that first contact made was on 21st January? Yes. it took only 10 days between my first contact with Mark Hathaway from Gondwana to the actual start of my safari. apparently people plan it months ahead. I had not the luxury to do so.
anyway, based on my very rudimentary perspective what I want and what I THINK I want, Mark was a perfect consultant. dont get me wrong, the other offers I received were also interesting, at least I had three final contenders. However Mark was the must responsive, quickest in responses and grasping what my wishes are and what I can have in such a short time frame. I also had the feeling like talking to a real person doing a personalized safari for me, not like being tossed a prepared safari schedule.
I gave my financial limit so we can plan more easily and Mark came up with several options, in my opinion stretching as much as possible the benefit for me. I know for sure he could have sent me to some mediocre places and have another customer in his pocket.
I to four different places, Splash camp by kwando, Lagoon by Kwando, Pangolin in Chobe, and one night at Vic Falls. everything was seamles, meticoulusly planned. The camps were faboulous. when Mark suggested one site I was not so much sure about given my preferences I have not raised before, he was responsiove and changed the offer and customized it - to my absolute satisfaction. I went during !low season! but I have not seen anything low in my experience, except of the number of people - there were times when it was just three people in the whole camp with all the activities. Or the animales, the game, I had encouters I would never dream off. Marks choices of the sites was perfect. the staff at kwando properties is super professional, friendly, and curteous. I really enjoyed every minute spent there. Pangolin in Chobe with their photographic equipment was an amazing end for the safari, before I went to the Vic Falls. Mark knew exactly what I wanted, or at least he had enough customers to help lost causes like myself who want to see as much as possible but dont know enough. I really assure you that it is worth going with gondwana, instead of the usual safaris I have seen in chobe, overcrowded cars with 9 people staring and trying to get a picture of one animal. tracking, walking safari, boat cruises, in lagoon and rivers, mokoro, all that was perfectly managed and complemented with the professional attitude of the Kwando staff either in camps or outside such as the guides or trackers. superb Job!
I would definitely recommend Mark and Gondwana Tours. And I am definitely coming back.
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Email Vijay | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An Amazing experience in Botswana and Namibia - thanks to Gondwana Tours
My wife and I worked with Mark Hathaway to set up a three week tour that started in Botswana and ended in Namibia. It was one of the most wonderful experience of our lives. Gondwana Tours really worked with us to tailor the trip to our needs and the whole trip was a blast. We especially want to thank Mark Hathaway. He was incredibly patient and knowledgeable and worked with us to get the tour details right. He was also extremely patient with our countless questions and his suggestions were spot on. I would highly recommend Gondwana Tours and Safaris if you are going to Africa and I cannot say enough good things about Mark Hathaway.
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Email Lisa C | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Outstanding safari agent
I contacted multiple agents via Safari Bookings to request proposed itineraries for our family’s first ever trip to Africa and Mark of Gondwana Tours took the time to ask us questions and really understand our needs before putting together an amazing itinerary for us, really just head & shoulders above what other agents had given us.
Throughout the process he was beyond patient and super responsive with regards to my many (many) questions & requests. The trip itself was more than we had ever hoped for and outstanding in every respect - I would say it was the trip of a lifetime, but we are already planning to return in 2019 and will be using Gondwana Tours & Safari again.
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Email Ming | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great safari in the Okavango Delta
I booked a 6 day/5 night safari at 2 different camps in the Okavango Delta through Mark at Gondwana Tours. Mark ensured everything went very smoothly from the booking to the actual trip, and thoroughly answered all questions I had. The camps and the staff and guides were fantastic, and I had some great animal sightings. I was very with the experience and would happily book with Gondwana again.
